Part XIII (Compromise and Solutions)

"Soval, if Captain Archer marries us here I will still want a ceremony with my parents. I know it sounds crazy as we will likely have a Vulcan ceremony too. I guess maybe I want all the blessing we can get."

Soval locked his eyes onto her. "If that is your wish. Why would I complain when you will Vow to be mine thrice over?"

"Ok, "She said. "Captain, you could get into hot water for this."

"It will be fine Corporal. After all we are all family. The only thing you must remember is that this wedding took place immediately after the Ambassador arrived. I do not feel it is a lie from what I have been told. So I will just give it the official Star Fleet Stamp."

Tucker smiled at Soval's growl.

Husband, that is not amusing, T'Pol sent.

Well at least we know he is back to normal.

What do you mean?

He is back to being grumpy and sarcastic, Tucker said as he sipped his tea.

T' Pol's brow rose sharply and Amanda noticed the silent communication going on. Clearly T'Pol was not pleased with the commander. Amanda looked at him and suddenly he seemed very young and immature. She wondered why she had ever been attracted to him. While Commander Tucker was good looking and charming, he was also irreverent and often impulsively immature. She wondered how T'Pol, a logical Vulcan, put up with him.

Soval, a quiet shadow, listened to her thoughts and was very pleased at what he heard. Amanda was now turning more to him.

T'Pol noted the fact that Amanda had moved closer to Soval. Perhaps she would not be so upset with Trip; his actions clearly pushed Amanda closer to her own bond-mate. That was definitely an improvement. T'Pol could admit to herself she was still not certain she trusted the MACO in this regard. Perhaps it was the fact that she could no longer function without Trip that made her so edgy and overprotective.

XIV (Annoyance)

Soval was annoyed. He did not wish to waste time with this useless court marshal since Amanda had done an excellent job of protecting him while he was under her care. This foolish need of humans to prescribe blame was an emotional response.

He chose his finest robes and laid them out. He was awaiting Amanda because he would need her help to button the robes. There was another issue that he found aggravating. Soval knew he needed to meditate but it would have to wait until he cleared his wife. He almost smiled at that thought.

The Human ceremony had been short but oddly touching. It lacked the bonding of a Vulcan ceremony but he could see it mattered to Amanda. Soval had promised that they could repeat their vows in front of one of her priests with her family present. He was also looking forward to being bound by a Vulcan priest. Soval had been surprised when Tucker had offered to stand as his best man and T'Pol had taken the place of the Matron of Honor for Amanda. He knew that T'Pol would stand for them but the fact that her mate would do so was amazing. He knew if Starfleet ever learned the truth about when the wedding occurred there would be serious consequences to all of their careers. Archer had insisted that no one would ever know from them. His assertion that it was not Starfleet's business what they did, had shocked him. Soval had questioned T'Pol about this privately and been informed that the Captain considered them a family. Soval's brow rose at that.

"They have adopted us, Ambassador. I suppose we are now part of Clan Archer and Enterprise."

"I think not, T'Pol. I refuse to consider Jonathan Archer as my head of house. If we are indeed family then I will need to adopt them into my clan."

T'Pol's brows rose. "Indeed. I had hoped you would see the logic of this." She to had no intention of allowing Jonathan Archer such a role. She considered him a fine man and perhaps a younger brother. However, he did not have the maturity for head of house.

Soval huffed. It seemed he now had 79 new human family members .and one Denoblian. Soval knew it was only proper that he take them all under his protection. It was well that T'Pol was already his daughter. He wondered how this would look in a thousand years to the archivists. He sighed and wondered what the High command would say to this increase in his family? He sent the order to Vulcan as soon as the wedding was finished.

He came back to the present as his wife keyed the door. "You look most agreeable, my wife."

Amanda shifted nervously. She disliked the formal dress uniform.

"Thanks, you look handsome, Soval. I do not think you can go to the ready room dressed in that." She was amused at his attire. He wore only shorts.

"I am afraid I must request your assistance."

Amanda chastened moved to his side. "I forgot. I am sorry for teasing you."

He traced her face lightly. "It pleases me that you can over look my imperfections."

She picked up his robe and helped him into it. "What imperfections?" Her eyes took in his solid form. Lust and love flowed to him from the tips of her fingers.

"Close the clasps, wife, or I will not allow you to leave this room for many hours. I do not believe that will aid your case."

Amanda laughed, liking his dry humor. How could she ever have thought he did not have a sense of humor?

There was a knock on the door. Amanda quickly closed his robe and moved aside so Soval could answer the door. The door opened and Lt Reed was standing there.

"Excuse me, sir. I am sorry to disturb you." He paused and gave them both an apologetic look. "I am afraid I must escort Corporal Cole to the hearing."

Soval stiffened. "You are not required, Lt. Reed. I will escort Amanda to the Captain."

Amanda moved to his side. She took his hand in hers." Soval, it is procedure. The Captain has been most kind by not putting me in the brig. Please let me go with Lt. Reed. I do not wish to get him or Captain Archer in trouble for helping us."

Soval looked down on his wife. "As you wish my, wife." Malcolm Reed's Eyes grew big at this comment but he wisely said nothing. Then Soval said, "you and your team may escort us both."

Malcolm signed with relief. He swallowed hard his throat still hurt form the Ambassadors' attack.

"Yes ,Sir, it will be an honor sir." He stepped back and motioned the other MACO's to stand back a respectful distance.

"I have no concerns for Amanda's safety with you guarding her, Lt. Reed."

"Thank you, Sir," Reed said.

"We are family, Lt. Reed, one guards that above all else."

"Sir?"

"As an added protection for the Captain and crew of Enterprise and for all your work for my people I have formally adopted you all into my Clan."

Reed stumbled against Soval his worries on the top of his thoughts… "Sir?"

Amanda grinned at his pole axed look. She walked a few steps behind Soval enjoying the view.

"It means that if we need it, Vulcan must come to our Aid, Lt. Reed. We are all now part of Vulcan."

"Ah….Thank you. I think." He said He swallowed hard not knowing what this would mean to them.

"I found it wise to do this to protect you all. I have concerns that it will be needed to balance the scales with Starfleet. Do not worry, Lt. You will not be required to call me Father." Reed would be an obedient son unlike some. I fear however he would be to obedient.

A MACO chuckled only to get a hash look.

"He adopted you all, Sgt. Peters," Amanda said, laughing.

The MACO blanched. "He can do that? How come?"

"Yes, be grateful, Sgt. Peters, it is the only reason I am allowing this escort," Soval said once more in his sarcastic mode.